Connecticut western news., 1887-01-26
A Hamper Full Of Fun.


 A Hamper Full Of Fun.
 That will be nice, Agnes; do let us surprise motherm said Milly Reid one day to her big cousin.
 ''Yes. It would be great fun, and am sure your mother would like it better than anything else; only, how can we manage it 2'
 Nii!ly was but six years old, and thought that Agnes must be able to do every thing; so she would not listen to any fears as to being able to carry out their plan; the two cousins were still talking when five-year-old Janet came running in.
 "What are you doing, Millys You promised to have game with me-"
 "Nye were talking about mothers birthday present." said Milly rather grandly. for being the eldest of four, she used to be little mother to them all. "We want to have our photographs taken for her."
 ''Oh, what fun Will the man come here, as he did after Alice was i'll a'
 II never thought of that" said cousin Agnes, ''and have been puzzling my head for ever so long as to how could get you all to Witham without your mother knowing. Of course can write and tell the photographer to come here."
 'Mother is going to tea with Mrs. Jones on Friday" said Milly; 'I heard her tell father &C.,"
 ''Then that will do nicely, and l will write to the photographer at once and tell him to come at o'clock on Friday"
 For tho next three days there were all sorts of whisperings and knowing looks amongst the three bigger children; only baby Edmund was told nothing of the surprise, for he was too young to under stand. Friday came at last, and it seemed to Agnes as if Mrs. Reid would never start. But about half past three she drove off in the little pony-chaise and the children were all taken into the nursery to have clean frocks and pina- flores put on.
 Punctually at four Mir. Foster arrived, and everything was prepared in the din ing room. A big hamper was brought up, and in it all four children were placed, with a few shavings scattered about to make it look as if they had travelled long way by train. One photograph was taken safely enough, but Mir. Foster wished to try another. He had arranged them differently, and had just said, ''Now, then, look at this bird. One, two, -" when suddenly they all exclaimed, ''There's Topsy!"
 Sure enough, the pony carriage was coming up to the door, as Agnes saw through the window. What was to be done ? There was not moment to lose. Mir. Foster retreated into the little study, which opened out of the dining-room, taking his apparatus with him. Agnes seized Edmund, told the three girls to lie still in the hamper, and went to tho door to meet her aunt. But as she stepped into the hall, Mrs. Reid came | in.
 "I actually forgot to take the littlt frock promised to Mrs. Jones for { pattcrn," she said. 'I had nearly go l 10 her house, and had to come all tht way back. Why whatever arc you doing with that great hamper in this room ?'
 "I had it up for the children" sait | Agnes.
 "Well, hope it is clean. It is rather strange thing in the middle of tho dining -room."
 Just then there was a regular expl1 sion of smothered laughter from the little prisoners.
 There's something alive inside" sait Mrs. Reid, opening the lid. Up jumped all the children like Jack-in-the-b box and they had hearty laugh together But Mrs. Reid never guessed anything about the surprise that was in store fo her; and one of her greatest treasure now is the picture of the hamper full o fun which she found on the breakfas table on her birthday.
 "You all look happy and full of fun, she says sometimes, ''and that is be cause you love each other."
 ''And you and father, too, mother, I whispcrs Milly